Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Hair Replacement Apparatus and Method of Use
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of hair
replacement and extension
apparatuses, systems and methods of use, or the like.
Background of the Invention
[0002] Hair replacement devices and wigs are known in the art. Wigs
typically are constructed
for placement on top of an individual's remaining hair and other hair
replacement devices
typically are constructed to augment an individual's remaining hair.
[0003] Wigs generally require a relatively tight fit on the scalp,
particularly around the periphery
of the wig, for stability. Wigs generally are constructed from materials
simulating skin, from
mesh or netlike materials, or from plastic frameworks. Some of the problems
associated with
wigs include excessive heat at the scalp and pressure or pinching from the
required tight fit. The
more open framework designs, including mesh or net wigs, developed to resolve
these problems
have been only partially successful. The continuing requirement for stability
made some of the
wig designs bulky and uncomfortable, and the less bulky, more open designs
frequently did not
maintain their shape over time
[0004] Many men and women suffer from hair growth related maladies.
This may be full or
partial baldness, spotty areas of growth and even just premature or unusual
thinning of their hair.
These people often don't know where to turn, whether to their doctor or their
own hair salon.
[0005] However, not every person will benefit from the types of re-
growth or transplanting that
is the medical practice's usual treatment. Additionally, because many hair
replacement
techniques are complex and their attachment methods difficult to master, the
hair replacement
industry is and continues to be a separate industry from the full service
salon.
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[0006] Hair replacement may be a complete head of hair, partial
replacement or even extensions.
However, the fastening technique is crucial to the success of the hair
replacement and, when not
done properly, it leaves the wearer feeling insecure about the attachment and
often deters the use
of such systems.
[0007] Currently, some of the more common types of hair replacement or
extension fastening
methods include clips, bonding, micro-linking, weaving, micro-lines and
taping. There may be
concerns with each of these methods, however.
[0008] Clips, or any tension-type attachment, can cause bald spots
because the clips are attached
to the same area over and over. In addition, the comb part of the clip may
cause scratching or
scarring of the scalp with repeated use in the same area.
[0009] Bonding uses glue and grafting solutions on the skin, if the
hair is shaved down, and on
the hair itself, if hair is not cut down. This method can be very messy, be
difficult to adjust, and
may cause allergic reactions.
[00010] Micro-linking is an on-point attachment that uses small metal
tubes fastened to the
natural hair. The hair piece is then attached to those point attachments. A
downside of this
method is that, if improperly applied, the sharp metal clips will cut, rather
than bind on, the
user's hair. This method is also susceptible to the same problems as a tension
attachment, which
may be painful or cause bald spots.
[00011] Weaving is a braiding and sewing method of attaching wefts of
hair. This method may
not be appropriate for all users because the end result may be bulky. It is
not recommended for
soft, smooth hair because the hair slips and falls out of the weave. Because
the initial weave is
very tight, the tension can also be very uncomfortable and can cause bald
spots or cause traction
alopecia.
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[0010] Another type of attachment is known within the industry as
"micro-line" and is a glue or
glue mixture on a coned string that is melted to the user's hair to hold on a
hair piece.
[0011] Taping is yet another method of attachment where tape is either
integrated into the hair
piece or is fastened to another means of attachment, which is, in turn
attached to the head or hair
of the user. Some of the more common taping methods do not close at the front
of the hair piece.
This method gets loose very quickly and requires clips or tape on the skin on
the front of the hair
piece. Current methods of taping hair to the scalp have a very high degree of
difficulty for
successful application due to the high learning curve.
[0012] Of the previous methods, skin bonding has long been the
preferred method for attaching
additional hair pieces because it allows for a secure fit. In addition, it is
preferred that a method
of applying hair that does not require shaving or the cutting of a women's
existing natural hair.
[0013] Additionally, it is desirable to have a hair replacement
apparatus, system and method that
may add hair that would act like a skin bond without shaving or removing a
women's existing
hair and to eliminate the need for multiple attachment points in order to
eliminate tension which
causes hair loss and breakage.
[0014] Furthermore, it is desirable that the hair replacement apparatus
is versatile enough to be
used with multiple hair pieces and that it lasts as long as existing non-
bonded methods of
application.
[0015] Finally, it is desirable for such a hair replacement apparatus,
system and method to be
hypoallergenic, to minimize its effect on the user.
[0016] As a result of the above-stated problems and desires, there is a
need for a hair
replacement apparatus, system and method of us, without the limitations of the
current hair
replacement apparatuses, systems, and methods.
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[0017] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the
invention in detail, it is
to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the
details of construction
and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following
description or illustrated in
the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being
practiced and carried
out in various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology
and terminology
employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded
as limiting.
Summary of Invention
[0018] The present invention comprises an apparatus, system and method
for hair replacement.
The apparatus comprises a user-fitted mold, covering all or a portion of the
crown of the user's
head, upon which an anchor base is sized. The user-fitted mold may also be
sized for a group of
users, for example: male, female, small, medium, large, etc. The user-fitted
mold may further
comprise a thin wall. The thin wall may be made of a plastic or semi-plastic
material, such as
plastic, polyurethane, fiberglass, or other materials with similar
characteristics.
[0019] In one or more embodiments, the anchor base has an inner and
outer diameter and is
generally ovoid in shape. The size and width of the anchor base may be
individually sized to the
user or to a group of users.
[0020] The underside of the anchor base further includes a fastening
means. The fastening
means may be double-sided adhesive tape, a liquid adhesive, a semi-liquid
adhesive, a suction
attachment, a hook and pile attachment, a surgical attachment, or another
means of attachment
with similar characteristics.
[0021] In one or more embodiments, the anchor base is not a regular
ovoid, but may be custom
made to fit a particular contour.
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[0022] In one or more embodiments, the anchor base is not a closed ring,
but a curved line of
unitary or individual segments.
[0023] In one or more embodiments, the anchor base may be multiple
sections in a generally
circular, semi-circular or ovoid shape.
[0024] In one or more embodiments, the anchor base may be two or more
semi-circular sections.
[0025] In one or more embodiments, the anchor base is fastened to the
user's head using the
fastening means on the underside of the anchor base.
[0026] The user's hair may be brought over the top of the anchor base
and fastened to the anchor
base with the fastening means on top of the anchor base. The user's own hair
acts as additional
multiple points of contact to keep the anchor base in place. A replacement
hair piece or extension
is then attached to the anchor base to supplement the user's own hair.
[0027] In one or more embodiments, the user's hair is brought over the
top of the anchor base
from the inside of the ring, towards the outside of the ring.
[0028] In one or more embodiments, the user's hair is brought over the
top of the anchor base
from the outside of the ring, towards the inside of the ring.
[0029] In one or more embodiments, the user's hair is brought over the
top of the anchor base
from both the inside of the ring, towards the outside of the ring and from the
outside of the ring,
towards the inside of the ring.
[0030] In one or more embodiments, the user's hair is brought over the
anchor base strand by
strand.
[0031] In one or more embodiments, the user's hair is brought over the
anchor base in a multiple
strand by strand fashion.
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[0032] In one or more embodiments, the user's hair is brought over the
anchor base in
alternating sections.
[0033] The area described by the inner rim of the anchor base may be
further lined with a mesh
ribbon fastened to the anchor base. The mesh ribbon may be glass silk PU
medium gauge or a
material with similar physical characteristics.
[0034] The area described by the lining of the mesh ribbon may then
include a full-mesh region,
a partial mesh region or a full-integration region. The mesh and mesh ribbons
comprising the
area enclosed by the mesh ribbon may be glass silk PU medium gauge or a
material with similar
physical characteristics.
[0035] In one embodiment of the invention, the full integration
embodiment, a lattice-work of
mesh ribbon covers the interior of the anchor base and is attached either to
the inner rim of the
anchor base or to the mesh ribbon lining. The full integration embodiment is
used when the user
has sufficient hair to pull through the latticework, but may require
additional areas of thickness
or supplementation to increase the consistency of the entire head of hair.
[0036] In one embodiment of the invention, the partial mesh embodiment,
the integration
portion of the interior functions as described above, with the user's own hair
being integration or
pulled through the lattice-work mesh. The mesh portion of the invention then
allows for
additional, i.e. non-user, hair to be woven into the mesh portion to
complement or replace the
user's own hair.
[0037] In one embodiment of the invention, the full mesh embodiment,
the entire mesh portion
of the invention then allows for additional, i.e. non-user, hair to be woven
into the mesh portion
to supplement or replace the user's own hair.
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[0038] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized
that the optimum
dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include
variations in size, materials,
shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed
readily apparent
and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to
those illustrated in the
drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by
the present
invention. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
principles of the
invention.
[0039] Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily
occur to those skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction
and operation shown and
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be
resorted to, falling
within the scope of the invention.
[0040] Other objectives, features and advantages of the invention will
become apparent from the
following description and drawings wherein.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0041] Fig. 1 is a side view of the mold form assembly.
[0042] Fig. 2 is a bottom view of one embodiment of the anchor base.
[0043] Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the half-mesh embodiment of the invention.
[0044] Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the full-mesh embodiment of the invention.
[0045] Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the full-integration embodiment of the
invention.
[0046] Fig. 6 is a side view of an exemplary user.
[0047] Fig. 7 is a side view of an exemplary user with an attached anchor
base.
[0048] Fig. 8 is an exploded side view of a user with an attached anchor base
and exemplary hair piece.
[0049] Fig. 9 is a side view of an exemplary user with an attached hair piece.
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[0050] Fig. 10 is a top view of one embodiment of the attachment method of the
anchor base.
[0051] Fig. 11 is a top view of another embodiment of the attachment method of
the anchor base.
[0052] Fig. 12 is a top view of a further embodiment of the attachment method
of the anchor base.
[0053] Fig. 13 is a top view of another embodiment of the anchor base.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
[0054] Various embodiments or examples may be implemented in numerous
ways, including as
a system, a process, or an apparatus. A detailed description of one or more
examples is provided
below along with the accompanying figures. The detailed description is
provided in connection
with such examples, but is not limited to any particular example. The scope is
limited only by
the claims and numerous alternatives, modifications, and equivalents are
encompassed.
[0055] Numerous specific details are set forth in the following
description in order to provide a
thorough understanding. These details are provided for the purpose of example
and the described
techniques may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of
these specific details.
For clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related
to the examples has not
been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description.
[0056] Referring now to Fig. 1, mold form assembly 100 comprises a thin
wall encompassing
the crown of the head of, and particularly sized for, each individual user, or
a group of users. The
thin wall may be made of a plastic or semi-plastic material, such as plastic,
polyurethane,
fiberglass, or other materials with similar characteristics.
[0057] In one or more embodiments, the mold form assembly may 100 be
individually or
custom sized.
[0058] In one or more embodiments, the mold form assembly 100 may be
sized for a group of
users, for example: male, female, small, medium, large, etc.
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[0059] Mold form assembly 100 is further comprised of a front portion 102
and a rear portion
104. The front portion 102 is generally oriented to the front of the user's
head, and the rear
portion 104 is generally oriented towards the rear of the user's head. A top
portion 106 generally
covers the top of the user's head and a bottom edge 108 creates a lower rim
around the crown of
the user's head.
[0060] In one or more embodiments, a curved or angled portion 110
allows easy removal from
the user's head.
[0061] Referring now to Fig. 2, anchor base assembly 200 is comprised
of an outer rim 202 and
an inner rim 204 describing an exemplary ovoid anchor base 206.
[0062] In one or more embodiments, anchor base assembly 200 further
comprises an attachment
means 208 to removably attach anchor base 206 to the head of the user.
[0063] In one or more embodiments, the means to attach 208, may be one
or more of the group
of double-sided adhesive tape, a liquid adhesive, a semi-liquid adhesive, a
suction attachment, a
hook and pile attachment, a surgical attachment, or another means of
attachment with similar
characteristics.
[0064] Referring now to Fig. 3, the partial mesh assembly 300 is
comprised of a mesh ribbon
302 which is attached to the inner rim 204 of the anchor base 206, a tight-
knit mesh portion 304,
and an integration portion 306, both connected to the ribbon mesh 302, and to
each other, such
that the entire area enclosed by the anchor piece 206 is covered, either by
the tight-knit portion
304 or the integration portion 306.
[0065] In one or more embodiments, the mesh material of the ribbon mesh
302, the tight-knit
portion 304, and the integration portion 306 may be further comprised of glass
silk PU medium
gauge or a material with similar physical characteristics.
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[0066] In one or more embodiments, the integration piece may be further
comprised of an m-
mesh ribbon.
[0067] In one or more embodiments, the integration portion 306 may be
further comprised of
one quarter inch m-mesh ribbon.
[0068] Referring now to Fig. 4, the full integration assembly 400 is
comprised of a mesh ribbon
302 which is attached to the inner rim 204 of the anchor base 206 and a full
integration portion
402, such that the entire area enclosed by the anchor piece 206 is covered by
the full integration
portion 402.
[0069] In one or more embodiments, the mesh material of the full
integration portion 402 may
be further comprised of glass silk PU medium gauge or a material with similar
physical
characteristics.
[0070] In one or more embodiments, the full integration portion 402 may
be further comprised
of an m-mesh ribbon.
[0071] In one or more embodiments, the full integration portion 402 may
be further comprised
of one quarter inch m-mesh ribbon.
[0072] Referring now to Fig. 5, the full mesh assembly 500 is comprised
of a mesh ribbon 302
which is attached to the inner rim 204 of the anchor base 206 and a full mesh
portion 502, such
that the entire area enclosed by the anchor piece 206 is covered by the full
mesh portion 502.
[0073] In one or more embodiments, the mesh material of the full mesh
portion 502 may be
further comprised of glass silk PU medium gauge or a material with similar
physical
characteristics.
[0074] Referring now to Fig. 6, an exemplary user 600 has a portion of
healthy growth hair 602
requiring no modifications and a portion of low or no-growth hair 604.
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[0075] Referring now to Fig. 7, anchor base 206 is positioned
advantageously between the
portions of hair 602, 604.
[0076] Referring now to Fig. 8, replacement hair assembly 800 is
comprised of a rim portion
802 which is appropriately sized to cover and match the shape and contour of
anchor base 206,
and a hair portion 804, which is appropriately cut, styled and coloured to
match the user's hair
portions 602, 604.
[0077] Referring now to Fig. 9, rim portion 802 has been attached to
the anchor base portion
206 (not pictured) and the hair portion 804 has been incorporated on top of
and into the user hair
portion 602.
[0078] Referring now to Fig. 10, hair portion 602 is shown covering
anchor base 206 from the
inside to the outside of anchor base 206 to help position and attach anchor
base 206 to the user's
head.
[0079] Referring now to Fig. 11, alternating strands of hair portion
602 and hair portion 604 are
shown covering anchor base 206 from the inside to the outside of anchor base
206 and from the
outside to the inside of anchor base 206, respectively, to help position and
attach anchor base
206 to the user's head.
[0080] Referring now to Fig. 12, alternating sections of hair portion
602 and hair portion 604 are
shown covering anchor base 206 from the inside to the outside of anchor base
206 and from the
outside to the inside of anchor base 206, respectively, to help position and
attach anchor base
206 to the user's head.
[0081] Referring now to Fig. 13, a customized anchor base 1300 is not a
closed form, but
comprises a regular ovoid curve portion 1302, a non-regular curve portion
1304.
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